'cause learning is a riot.

Here are the slides and handout from Week 2 of the Get Organized! workshop series. Like last week, there are links to additional resources on the last slide.

In Week 1, we talked about Time Management. In Week 2, we focused on the “analyze” and “strategize” phases for organizing your space & stuff. We covered things like the importance of creating distinct “activity zones” within each room and the key components of any organization system:

Next week we’ll explore the third and final phase of organizing (“attack”) a bit more deeply than we hav e so far, and we’ll focus on some specific topics: filing, decluttering/purging, and tracking your stuff.

Bring a pile of papers (or other things) that need sorting. Or a list of the types of papers in your pile.

Bring in an example of something that’s working for you!

You can also keep working on earlier phases of organizing or time management stuff, and there will be an opportunity to check in about your progress so far.

It is late to be advertising this course on the blog, but there is still space in the course if you would like to participate.

This course is about computer security. Computer security is a huge and complicated topic, so to keep it manageable here are the primary goals:

To understand some of the security threats that exist in the big scary world, as well as the resources you might want to protect

To make better security choices without being terrified into paralysis

To have you identify, analyse and improve aspects of computer security as they relate to your own life

The course will be held Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm starting on March 13, at the Working Centre’s main building, 58 Queen Street South, Kitchener. It will run 3-5 weeks depending on student interest. In the first week we will discuss general security principles, talk about managing passwords, and choose topics for future sessions.

This course is directed towards non-experts. We hope there will be lots of interaction and a friendly, nonintimidating atmosphere.

In order to sign up you can leave a comment on this blog post, write the facilitator at his yahoo.ca address (username: paul_nijjar) or just show up on Tuesday.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the first ‘Get Organized!’ workshop tonight. For those who couldn’t make it, here are the slides and handout. There are links to additional resources on the last slide. There are also some additional notes below and things to get ready for the next sessions. Read the rest of this entry →

Skillshare #6: Brand-Free Cleaning, Part One: Body Care

Take control over your bathroom arsenal with some natural body care ideas. We will explore common chemicals found in commercial products, their potential impacts to bodies and the environment, as well as alternatives. Participants are encouraged to bring soap/shampoo/toothpaste/other products currently being used for comparison, as well as their own ideas and experiences to contribute to a discussion. We’ll make some toothpaste and (bee-free, vegan) lip balm for everyone to take home, along with some other recipes to try. Everyone is welcome!

This workshop will lead to others along the same line, keep an eye out for part two: diy household cleaning supplies, perhaps?

Skillshare #5: DIY Screenprinting

Learn how to silk-screen t-shirts, patches, bags or that random piece of fabric that you don’t know what to do with. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about screen printing! In this workshop you will learn how to build your own screen, burn an image onto a screen, as well as, tips on how to screen print without smudging your image. Whether you’ve never touched a squeegee before or you’re a silk-screening expert, everyone is welcome!

KW FreeSkool is wrapping up its very successful first semester of classes, workshops, and community events. We hosted a launch party in September, and started several ongoing classes (Linux and Free Software Literacy, Anti-Colonial Reading Circle, and French Conversation Class) in October. Throughout the fall we offered workshops on breadmaking, DIY skills, and American Sign Language interpretation. After winding down for the winter holidays, we’ve been looking forward to our next semester and new opportunities for community-based learning and education. This email will outline several ways of getting involved in the coming months – we really hope you take us up on them!